Method and apparatus for applying closures to containers

ABSTRACT

To seal containers, closure members are supplied along a pair of downwardly curving tracks to a circle of sealing elements which rotate about a vertical axis. The sealing elements travel in a plane inclined obliquely to the vertical axis and the tracks are arranged tangentially to the circle at angularly spaced positions. Closure members move down each track to an associated transfer mechanism which holds individual closure members as they are picked up by the sealing elements and moved along the circle until they are fixed to the containers.

United States Patent [1 1 Sindermann Dec. 11, 1973 METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR APPLYING CLOSURES TO CONTAINERS [75] Inventor: Siegmar Sindermann,

Pelkum-Herringen, Germany [73] Assignee: Holstein & KappertMaschinenfabrik Phonix Gmbl-l, Dortmund, Germany [22] Filed: June 5,1972 [21] Appl. No.: 259,969

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 3, 1971 Germany P 21 27425.9

[52] U.S. Cl 53/43, 53/264, 53/306 [51] Int. Cl B65b 7/28 [58] Field ofSearch 53/43, 264, 306,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,432,989 3/1969 Bouzereau53/264 3,712,017 1/1973 Knabe 53/43 Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGeheeAssistant ExaminerWilliam R. Briggs Att0rneyDavid Toren et al.

[57] ABSTRACT To seal containers, closure members are supplied along apair of downwardly curving tracks to a circle of sealing elements whichrotate about a vertical axis. The sealing elements travel in a planeinclined obliquely to the vertical axis and the tracks are ar rangedtangentially to the circle at angularly spaced positions. Closuremembers move down each track to an associated transfer mechanism whichholds individual closure members as they are picked up by the sealingelements and moved along the circle until they are fixed to thecontainers.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING CLOSURESTO CONTAINERS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates toa container sealing operation and, more particularly, it concernsfeeding the closure members to a sealing mechanism and holding theclosure members as they are applied to the con tainers.

To increase the efficiency of sealing machines, particularly whereplastic closures or seals with a tear-off flap are used, it has beenproposed to feed the seals along a track arranged preferablytangentially to the turning circle of the sealing machine. The seals arearranged with the tear-off flaps projecting obliquely downwardly and theseals are guided into alignment above the containers so that when thetear-off flaps bear against the mouth of the container, the containercarries the seal along with it under a die for effecting the sealingaction.

Where the closure members or seals are engaged directly by thecontainers, it has been possible only to effect the removal of arelatively small number of seals.

Therefore, based on the procedure described above, the present inventionis directed to a method and apparatus for sealing containers withclosure members having a hollow plug configuration which is particularlyadapted to the requirements of present-day heavy duty machines.

In accordance with the present invention, the closure members areintroduced along a pair of tracks each directed tangentially to theturning circle of the sealing elements on a sealing mechanism. Thetracks are spaced angularly along the turning circle and feed theclosure members in a downwardly curving direction. The sealing elementsmove upwardly and downwardly and rotate in a plane disposed obliquely tothe vertical axis of the sealing mechanism. Due to the spacedrelationship of the tracks, one of them is located downstream from theother in the direction of rotation of the sealing elements. Accordingly,the track located upstream transfers the closure members to the sealingelements at a higher level than the closure members which are fed fromthe downstream track. In this arrangement, the sealing elementsalternately pick up the closure members from the two spaced tracks.

By this arrangement the output of the sealing mechanism is considerablyincreased and a sufficient quantity of closure members is supplied tothe sealing elements, independent of the closure member sortingmechanisms which are limited in their output. Further, with thisarrangement the difficulties experienced with the channels employed inthe past, particularly for supplying plastic closure members, areavoided, since the channels are not required.

The sealing mechanism used in applying the closure members tocontainers, includes a plurality of sealing elements which rotate abouta vertical axis and at the same time move upwardly and downwardly in thedirection of their own axes. The sealing elements travel in a turningcircle about the vertical axis with the circle disposed in a planeextending obliquely to the vertical axis. As a result, during a portionof their rotational movement, the sealing elements travel along anupwardly curving path and then during the remainder of their rotationalong a downwardly curving path. Further, a transfer mechanism isprovided along the turning circle for assisting in supplying the closuremembers to the sealing elements. The closure members are supplied alongat least two tracks arranged tangentially to the turning circle of thesealing elements and each track has a downwardly curving configurationfor moving the closure members into position to be picked up by thesealing elements. Due to the inclined orientation of the turning circle,the tracks, which are spaced angularly apart along the circle, arelocated at different levels at the point of tangency with the turningcircle.

Another characteristic of the invention is the provision of a springbiased follower pin in each of the sealing elements which is guided intothe hollow plug closure member and then recedes into the sealing elementfor permitting a pair of clamping jaws to grip the closure member. Theclamping jaws are pivotally mounted on the sealing element and lie in acurved plane which coincides with the circumferential path of theturning circle.

Another feature of the sealing elements is the provision of differentlength follower pins in alternate elements. Accordingly, one group ofthe sealing elements has longer follower pins and this group isassociated with the upstream track which supplies'closure members whilethe other group has shorter follower pins and is associated with thedownstream track.

As the sealing mechanism rotates, the sealing elements with the longerfollower pins pick up the closure members from the upstream track andcarry them along to be inserted into containers supplied to the sealingmechanism at a downstream location. The sealing elements with theshorter follower pins pick up the closure members at a lower level fromthe downstream track and similarly carry the closure members along forinsertion into the containers. In this way the alternating sealingelements with longer and shorter follower pins, alternate in picking upthe closure members from the two supply tracks. At each of the transferpoints between the tracks and the turning circle of the sealingmechanism, a follower pin of one of thesealing elements is directed intothe hollow plug portion of the closure member and directs it along theturning circle until it is securely held by the clamping jaws associatedwith the sealing element. As the sealing elements move into alignedposition above the containers, the clamping jaws are released from theclosure member and the closure member is pushed downwardly by thefollower pin into sealing engagement with the mouth of the container.'The container continues to travel along the turning circle of thesealing mechanism while the sealing action is completed and finally isdisplaced to another transfer member for subsequent processing.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there is illustrated and described a preferredembodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation, in plan view, of an apparatus,embodying the present invention, for inserting closure members intocontainers;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a portion of FIG. 1; v

FIG. 3 is a side view, partly in section, of one of the sealing elementsshown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a portion of the view in FIG. 2 forillustrating the transfer of a closure member into a sealing element;and

FIG. 5 is a top view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In FIG. 1, a turning circle 1 of asealing mechanism for inserting closure members 4 into containers 6, isillustrated. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the sealing mechanism consists ofalternating sealing elements 2,3 which rotate on the turning circleabout a vertical axis with the individual sealing elements movingupwardly and downwardly in the direction of their own axes. The sealingelements move along a curved path 19, which path lies in a planeinclined obliquely to the vertical axis of the sealing mechanism.

Closure members or seals 4, preferably formed of a plastic material andhaving a hollow plug configuration 12, are supplied to the turningcircle 1 from a pair of tracks 7, 8. Each of the tracks is disposedtangentially to the turning circle with the track 7 located upstream inthe direction of the sealing elements on the turning circle from thetrack 8. Further, due to the curved path 19 of the sealing elements, theupstream track 7 is located at a higher level as it approaches thesealing elements than the downstream track 8. Each of the tracks 7, 8includes a trough 9 with bearing surfaces which support the sealingsurfaces 10 of the closure members 4, see FIG. 3. Further, an elongatedslot 11 is formed between the bearing surfaces of the trough 9 throughwhich the hollow plug configuration 12 of the closure member extends asit moves downwardly along the track.

Located at each of the points of tangency 13 of the tracks 7 and 8 withthe turning circle 1 is a transfer mechanism 14. The transfer mechanismincludes a pair of tong-like members 16 arranged in a horizontal planeand movable inwardly toward the turning circle 1. The tong-like members16 are spring-loaded and firmly grip the closure member 4 located at thepoint of tangency. Extending from the transfer mechanism 14 along theturning circle 1 are a pair of laterally spaced support arms 17 whichare arranged in a horizontal plane and provide support surfaces 18forming a continuation of the bearing surfaces of the feed trough 9. Ascan be seen in FIG. 2, due to the horizontal disposition of the supportarms 17, they gradually approach the curved path 19 as the sealingelements move in the downward direction along the curved path in thedirection of rotation 20 of the turning circle. In FIG. 2, the supportarms at each of the points of tangency can be seen extendinghorizontally from the lower ends of the tracks 7, 8 toward thedownwardly directed curved path 19.

Adjacent to one side of the turning circle 1 is a container feedmechanism 5 for supplying containers 6 to the turning circle 1 of thesealing mechanism. The containers 6 are charged from a machine, notshown, to the feed mechanism 5, note the direction of the arrows shownin FIG. 1 indicating the path of movement of the containers into theturning circle 1 and then from the turning circle 1 onto the dischargemechanism 30.

As shown in FIG. 2, another curved path 19' is located below and inparallel relationship with the curved path 19 and is intersected by thefeed troughs 9 of the closure member supply tracks 7, 8 at differentlevels. As mentioned above, the downstream track 8 is located below theupstream track 7.

Each of the sealing elements 2,3 has a follower pin 21,22,respectively,with the follower pins 21 of the sealing elements 2 being longer thanthe follower pins 22 of the sealing elements 3. The sealing elements 2with the longer follower pins 21 are associated with the upsteam track 7while the sealing elements 3 with the shorter follower pins areassociated with the downstream track 8 for removing individual closuremembers 4 from the tracks for subsequent insertion into the containers6.

In FIG. 3 a typical cross sectional view of sealing elements 2,3 isshown with the spring-loaded follower pin 21,22 retracted within alaterally enclosing member 23. When a closure member is not held withinthe sealing element, the follower pin 21, 22 projects downwardly betweena pair of clamping jaws 25 with its free end 24 located below the lowerends of the jaws. The clamping jaws 25 are located on the opposite sidesof the closure members and move along the circumferential path of theturning circle 1. Each of the jaws is articulated to the member 23 abouta pivot member 26 and has a bearing surface 27, note FIG. 3, whichengages the sealing surface 10 of the closure member. The width ordimension of the jaws 25 measured in the radial direction of the turningcircle 1, is sufficiently narrow to permit the jaws to pass between thesupport arms 17 as the sealing elements 2,3 move downwardly along thecurved path 19.

As the sealing elements 2,3 rotate about the vertical axis of thesealing mechanism and move downwardly along the curved path 19, thesealing elements 2 with the longer follower pins 21 each engage one ofthe closure members 4 from the upstream track 7 at the location of thetransfer mechanism 14. Similarly, the sealing elements 3 with theshorter follower pins 22 each engage a closure member 4 from thedownstream track 8 at the position of the downstream transfer mechanism14. As the longer follower pins 21 approach the upstream transfermechanism 14, they are guided along an inclined surface 28 and then,upon reaching the transfer mechanism, are directed into the hollow plug12 of the closure member 4 held by the tong-like members 16. As thefollower pin 21 of the sealing element 2 engages a closure member 4, themembers 16 release the closure member and it continues to move along thepath of the turning circle on the support surface 18 of the support arms17. At this time the sealing elements are moving downwardly and theclosure member moves in a horizontal plane along the support arms.Accordingly, as the sealing element 2 moves downwardly its follower pin21 is moved upwardly against the spring biasing action and recedes intothe member 23. Further, due to the rounded configuration of the lowerportion of the clamping jaws 25, the jaws are moved apart by the closuremember until the support surfaces 27 of the jaws seat against and belowthe sealing surfaces 10 of the closure member. As the sealing element 2reaches the ends of the support arms 17 remote from the transfermechanism 14, the closure member is held securely by the clamping jawsin position to be inserted into the mouth of a container. As the sealingelements 2 proceed along the turning circle 1 and the clamping jaws 25engage the mouth opening into a container 6, the jaws are released andmoved apart and the closure member, centered by the sealing element ispushed into the mouth of the container. Dur ing the further downwardmovement of the sealing element, the final sealing action of the closuremember into the container is effected by the pressure surfaces 29located at the lower end of the sealing element, note FIG. 3.

Similarly, the follower pins 22 of the sealing elements 3 engage theinclined surface 28' located-in the range of the downstream track 8 andare guided, at that location, into engagement with the closure members 4moving downwardly along the track 8. In the same manner as the closuremembers are removed from track 7, the sealing elements 3 remove theclosure members 4 from the track 8 by means of the transfer mechanism14' and the tonglike members 16' associated with it. As the sealingelements 3 move the closure members along the support arms 17 until theclosure member is gripped by the clamping jaws, after which the sealingelement passes beyond the ends of the support arms 17 and moves intoalignment with a container for inserting the sealing element into thecontainer.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the inventiveprinciples, it will be understood that the invention may 'be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. Method for sealing containers with closure members, preferablyplastic closure members, comprising the steps of applying closuremembers to containers along a circular path of travel about a verticalaxis, introducing the closure members tangentially to the circular pathof travel at two spaced positions along the path of travel, locating oneof the positions ahead of the other in the direction of movement alongthe path of travel and also below the other, and feeding the closuremembers alternately from each of the positions to the path of travel. 1

2. A method, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step ofarranging the circular path of travel in a plane inclined obliquely toits vertical axis, and inclining the two tangential paths of movement ofthe closure members for downwardly directed movement of the closuremembers toward the circular path of travel.

3. Method, as set forth in claim 2, further comprising the step offeeding the containers tobe sealed to the circular path of travel at alocation adjacent the downstream position of tangency of the closuremembers, sealing the closure members to the containers as the containersmove along the circular path of travel, and removing the sealedcontainers from the circular path of travel at a position spacedangularly from the location at which the containers are fed to thecircular path of travel.

4. Apparatus for sealing closure members into openings in containers,comprising a sealing machine including a plurality of angularlyspacedsealing elements located in a circle rotatable about a verticalaxis, said sealing elements are movable in the vertical direction androtatable in a plane inclined at an oblique angle to the vertical axisof the circle in which said sealing elements are located, means forfeeding containers to said sealing member, and means for supplyingclosure members to said sealing elements for insertion into saidcontainers wherein the improvement comprises that said I means forsupplying closure members includes at least two tracks arrangedtangentially to the circle of said sealing elements and spaced apartalong the circle with one said track located downstream of the other inthe direction of movement of said sealing elements, each of said trackscurving downwardly to the point of tangency with the circle.

5. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, wherein each of said sealingelements comprises a follower pin resiliently biased in the downwarddirection, a member laterally enclosing said follower pin with thedownward end of said follower pin located below said member in itsdownwardly biased position, a pair of clamping jaws pivotally mounted onsaid member and located on diametrically opposed sides of said followerpin and positioned above the downward end of said follower pin in itsdownwardly biased position, and each of said clamping jaws having abearing surface arranged to engage and support one of the closuremembers.

6. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 5, wherein for each adjacent pair ofsaid follower elements one of said follower pins is longer than theother, and said sealing element having the longer said follower pin isarranged to remove closure members from the upstream one of said tracks.

7. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 6, wherein each of said trackscomprises a feed trough along which the closure members move downwardlyto the point of tangency with the circle of said sealing elements, saidfeed trough comprises a pair of oppositely spaced support surfacesdefining therebetween an elongated slot'extending in the direction ofsaid track so that the closure members move along said track supportedby said support surfaces and extending downwardly through said slot,transfer means located at the point of tangency of said track to saidcircle of said sealing elements for displacing the closure member fromsaid track to said sealing elements, and said transfer means includes apair of laterally spaced support arms located in a horizontal plane andextending downstream from the point of tangency of said track and saidcircle of sealing elements and following the path of travel of thecircle of said sealing elements.

8. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the spacing between saidsupport arms is greater than the width of said clamping jaws measured inthe radial direction of the circle of said sealing elements and lessthan the outside diameter of the closure members.

9. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said transfer meansincludes a pair of spring biased holders arranged at the point oftangency of each said track and the circle of said sealing elements forholding the closure member in position to be engaged by said sealingelement as it moves through the point of tangency.

10. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 9, wherein an inclined surfacemember extends upwardly along the path of the circle of said sealingelements from said pair of holders at each of the points of tangency ofsaid track with said circle of sealing elements to a position upstreamtherefrom for guiding said follower pin associated with said track intoengagement with a closure member.

1. Method for sealing containers with closure members, preferablyplastic closure members, comprising the steps of applying closuremembers to containers along a circular path of travel about a verticalaxis, introducing the closure members tangentially to the circular pathof travel at two spaced positions along the path of travel, locating oneof the positions ahead of the other in the direction of movement alongthe path of travel and also below the other, and feeding the closuremembers alternately from each of the positions to the path of travel. 2.A method, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step ofarranging the circular path of travel in a plane inclined obliquely toits vertical axis, and inclining the two tangential paths of movement ofthe closure members for downwardly directed movement of the closuremembers toward the circular path of travel.
 3. Method, as set forth inclaim 2, further comprising the step of feeding the containers to besealed to the circular path of travel at a location adjacent thedownstream position of tangency of the closure members, sealing theclosure members to the containers as the containers move along thecircular path of travel, and removing the sealed containers from thecircular path of travel at a position spaced angularly from the locationat which the containers are fed to the circular path of travel. 4.Apparatus for sealing closure members into openings in containers,comprising a sealing machine including a plurality of angularly spacedsealing elements located in a circle rotatable about a vertical axis,said sealing elements are movable in the vertical direction androtatable in a plane inclined at an oblique angle to the vertical axisof the circle in which said sealing elements are located, means forfeeding containers to said sealing member, and means for supplyingclosure members to said sealing elements for insertion into saidcontainers wherein the improvement comprises that said means forsupplying closure members includes at least two tracks arrangedtangentially to the circle of said sealing elements and spaced apartalong the circle with one said track located downstream of the other inthe direction of movement of said sealing elements, each of said trackscurving downwardly to the point of tangency with the circle. 5.Apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, wherein each of said sealingelements comprises a follower pin resiliently biased in the downwarddirection, a member laterally enclosing said follower pin with thedownward end of said follower pin located below said member in itsdownwardly biased position, a pair of clamping jaws pivotally mounted onsaid member and located on diametrically opposed sides of said followerpin and positioned above the downward end of said follower pin in itsdownwardly biased position, and each of said clamping jaws having abearing surface arranged to engage and support one of the closuremembers.
 6. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 5, wherein for eachadjacent pair of said follower elements one of said follower pins islonger than the other, and said sealing element having the longer saidfollower pin is arranged to remove closure members from the upstream oneof said tracks.
 7. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 6, wherein each ofsaid tracks comprises a feed trough along which the closure members movedownwardly to the point of tangency with the circle of said sealingelements, said feed trough comprises a pair of oppositely spaced supportsurfaces defining therebetween an elongated slot extending in thedirection of said track so that the closure members move along saidtrack supported by said support surfaces and extending downwardlythrough said slot, transfer means located at the point of tangency ofsaid track to said circle of said sealing elements for displacing theclosure member fRom said track to said sealing elements, and saidtransfer means includes a pair of laterally spaced support arms locatedin a horizontal plane and extending downstream from the point oftangency of said track and said circle of sealing elements and followingthe path of travel of the circle of said sealing elements.
 8. Apparatus,as set forth in claim 7, wherein the spacing between said support armsis greater than the width of said clamping jaws measured in the radialdirection of the circle of said sealing elements and less than theoutside diameter of the closure members.
 9. Apparatus, as set forth inclaim 8, wherein said transfer means includes a pair of spring biasedholders arranged at the point of tangency of each said track and thecircle of said sealing elements for holding the closure member inposition to be engaged by said sealing element as it moves through thepoint of tangency.
 10. Apparatus, as set forth in claim 9, wherein aninclined surface member extends upwardly along the path of the circle ofsaid sealing elements from said pair of holders at each of the points oftangency of said track with said circle of sealing elements to aposition upstream therefrom for guiding said follower pin associatedwith said track into engagement with a closure member.